Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 134 A Well-Timed Criticism

While they laughed, they didn't forget to point at Bo Cheng, who was lying on the ground, and spout all sorts of witty remarks.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was the focus of the entire event, retracted his right foot and casually patted off non-existent dust from his trouser leg.

It was as if the man who had just kicked away the entire summer was not him.

He looked at his distant grandnephew in the distance, who was burying his head in the grass as if he wished he could die on the spot, and a secret smile crept across his face.

As for Sarutobi Nami, who was lying on the ground, he had only one thought in mind.

dead.

Find a crack in the ground and crawl into it, immediately.

So embarrassing.

This is a million times more humiliating than being knocked unconscious by the clan chief's punch.

He could feel the gazes behind him, filled with pity and schadenfreude, pricking his back like needles.

He could even imagine that, starting today, for at least the next ten years, his nickname in the tribe would change from "The Calm Navigator" to "The Flying Buttocks."

Shame, indignation, grievance, despair... all these emotions intertwined, making his face flush red, even redder than a ripe tomato.

Just as he was about to use Earth Release: Earth Dragon Concealment Technique to become one with the grassland forever.

A footstep stopped beside him.

Immediately afterwards, a gentle voice sounded above his head.

"So, are you convinced now?"

Bo Cheng's body suddenly stiffened.

He knew who it was without even looking up, and quickly buried his face even deeper in the grass, replying in a muffled voice barely above a mosquito's buzz:

"I...I give up!"

He accepted his defeat wholeheartedly.

"...I give up."

"Yes, it's good that you're convinced." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a smile.

Young people can be a little arrogant, which is a good thing. But if they don't temper that arrogance and turn it into true integrity, they'll inevitably suffer a major setback sooner or later.

For a proud and arrogant genius like Bo Cheng, mere overwhelming power might intimidate him, but it wouldn't truly convince him.

Only by using this skillful method to shatter his pride can we calm his frivolous and impetuous state of mind.

You think too much and do too little.

The ultimate skill in combat is not faster speed, nor stronger power.

Hiruzen Sarutobi withdrew his hand, put it behind his back, and slowly began to teach.

"Rather, it's about control."

"Absolute control over every muscle, every wisp of chakra, and even every breath."

"When you can do that, every move you make is the most perfect move in itself."

The boy listened with rapt attention, feeling as if a door to a new world was slowly opening for him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and patted Nami on the back.

"A real man can take a fall; there's nothing shameful about it."

"Back in the day, I was punished even worse by the Second Hokage. He made me run fifty laps around the village while yelling that I was an idiot. That was truly humiliating."

Hearing the clan chief actually reveal his shortcomings to comfort him.

A warm feeling welled up in Bo Cheng's heart.

He slowly raised his head, his face still bearing several clear grass marks, looking both disheveled and comical.

Looking at the clan chief smiling at him, there was no mockery in his deep eyes, only the care and expectations of an elder for a younger generation.

Hiruzen waved again to the clansmen who were still laughing.

"That concludes today's training."

"Alright, stop laughing, everyone."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and put on a stern face towards the young clansmen who were still laughing and rolling on the ground.

Although he found the scene quite funny, as the clan leader, he still had to maintain appearances.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

"Did you see that?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over everyone present, and his voice became serious.

"The mistake that Bo Cheng just made, each of you has made to some extent."

"A duel in physical combat is not simply a clash of strength. It requires precise control over the strength of every muscle in your body; meticulous observation of every movement of your opponent; and, most importantly, seizing the fleeting moment of opportunity."

"Your attacks are full of brute force, but lack skill; your defenses appear solid, but are full of flaws."

Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no mercy, pointing out the problems of all of them incisively.

He walked to the center of the training ground and began to give a post-battle summary to everyone.

"For example, just now, more than a dozen of you ganged up on me. The formation was good, but your coordination was almost zero."

"Those responsible for the main attack just blindly charge forward, completely disregarding the attack rhythm of their teammates on the flanks. Those responsible for the sneak attacks arrive too late, getting themselves killed one by one..."

"You are not a team, you are just a disorganized mess."

Every word he said resonated deeply with these young people.

The young people on the field all lowered their heads, their faces showing shame.

Indeed, in the battle just now, although they seemed to have the numbers and the advantage, they actually did not form an effective united force at all.

However, just when everyone thought the Hokage was going to continue his stern reprimand, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone suddenly softened.

"However, your courage to challenge the strong is still commendable."

Looking at the dejected young people before him, he smiled and said, "Failure is not terrible. What is terrible is giving up after failure."

"Take today's failure as nourishment for your growth. Go back and reflect on it carefully. Next time, I hope to see a different you."

After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand seals.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

boom! boom! boom!

A dozen figures identical to him appeared instantly on the training ground.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, once again with his hands behind his back, walked to the side.

The dozen or so shadow clones then walked to the young clansmen who were exhausted and collapsed on the ground.

"Come, let me see your injury."

A shadow clone walked up to a girl who had twisted her ankle during the sparring session, squatted down, and her hands glowed with a soft green light.

"The Art of Immortal Control"

Warm chakra slowly flowed into the girl's ankles.

The swelling and pain are subsiding at a visible rate.

"Wow...that feels so good..."

A look of surprise mixed with enjoyment appeared on the girl's face.

More shadow clones then took direct action, beginning to treat and professionally relax the muscles of the boys who had collapsed to the ground.

"The muscles in this area are too stiff, so it's definitely not smooth when you exert force. Come on, relax, let me massage them for you."

"Ouch... Ah! It hurts! Chieftain, be gentle!"

"Bear with it, it'll do you good."

For a moment, the entire training ground was filled with various comfortable groans and screams of pain mixed with pleasure.